Contestants are judged by both the audience and a panel of judges. Audience votes account for 30% and tally of judges' scores account for 70%.

CONTEST PRIZES:

• A cash prize of $1,000 and a grand trophy will be awarded to the overall winner to hold the title “Rural American Idol 2011”.
• The official privilege offered to contestants, who qualified to enter this contest but did not win a spot in the finals, is an automatic booking for a performance at the Cotton Pickin’ Theatre.
• One wildcard entry from each division will be selected to compete in the Final Competition on November 19, 2011. A special P.O.I.N.T. Committee Panel will make such selection on the basis of specific criteria. The names of the wildcard winners will be announced after October 22, 2011.
• Cash prizes (TBA) will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place winners in each of the 3 divisions.
• The title of "2011 Rural American Idol" will be awarded to a first place division winner finalist who garnered the highest score in a sing-off competition during the final showdown, based on the combined tally of judges’ scores and audience votes.
• Whatever additional prizes, if any, will be announced officially during the Final Competition Night.